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WEST JORDAN — At least two West Jordan police officers saw a gun in the hand of a suspected bank robber before he was shot and killed by a third officer, according to a newly unsealed search warrant.
Jesse Jay Taylor, 40, of Spanish Fork, was shot Nov. 2 by police and later died at a local hospital. Police had been looking for Taylor, who they say had just robbed Mountain America Credit Union, 6761 S. Redwood Road, at gunpoint.
Shortly after the bank robbery, police spotted Taylor's pickup truck, and a chased ensued when he refused to pull over.
"At approximately 7900 South 1300 West, the suspect vehicle broke through a UTA TRAX crossing and damaged the crossing arms," according to a search warrant unsealed in 3rd District Court. "WJPD officers pursued the suspect vehicle to the area of 8870 South 1095 West where the driver of the Chevrolet truck failed to navigate a turn and crashed into a cement wall."
Taylor got out of his truck and ran. At least three West Jordan officers also exited their vehicles and ran after him, the warrant states. One officer broadcasted on his police radio that he could see a gun in the fleeing man's hand, according to the warrant.
West Jordan police officer Keith Jenkins confronted Taylor near 8880 South and 1070 West as ran around a corner.
"During this confrontation, WJPD officer Jenkins fired multiple rounds, striking the suspect at least once," the warrant states.
Jenkins was placed on standard paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.
Utah court records show Taylor took a plea in abeyance on Oct. 28, just five days earlier, to charges of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was convicted in that case of purchasing heroin and meth near Salt Lake City's Rio Grande District, where Salt Lake police were conducting an operation, according to charging documents.
When police searched Taylor's truck after the shooting, they found cash from the bank robbery, two knives, bullets, a gun holster and drug paraphernalia, according to a return on the search warrant affidavit.
